I Feel Pretty Review
May 18, 2018
After receiving solid reviews from multiple screening tests, I Feel Pretty moved its original June release to April 20. However, the film starring Amy Schumer (Renee Barrett), Michelle Williams (Avery LeClaire), Rory Scovel (Ethan), Aidy Bryant (Vivian) and Busy Philipps (Jane), was met with negative feedback from both critics and audiences. Having seen Schumer’s latest comedy, the critiques are justifiable.
Renee Barrett is an insecure young woman who lives an average life in New York City. During a SoulCycle class, Renee suffers an injury to her head after falling off the bike. After waking up, she looks into the mirror and believes she has completely transformed into a beautiful woman. Renee’s confidence allows her to become more daring, which quickly turns her life around.
While the film had a great message about body positivity, it lacked the fresh humor a comedy needs to succeed. Some of the jokes felt stale as they tend to have overused punchlines that are utilized by most writers. The plot could have taken several different routes that strays away from predictable actions. The lessons I Feel Pretty tries to teach are valuable, but it is not executed in a memorable way.
Michelle Williams’ performance as CEO Avery LeClaire proved to be one of her most unforgettable roles. Williams steals the spotlight once she reveals her character’s surprising, yet hilarious baby voice. Even with a MBA degree from Wharton and job experience as a Supreme Court clerk, Avery’s childlike voice undermines her intelligence and becomes her biggest insecurity. Despite Williams’ limited screen time, her odd behaviors and amusing personality keeps the audience engaged.
I Feel Pretty had a promising story idea, but it was not carried out successfully. While Williams was able to salvage certain parts of the movie with Avery’s quirkiness, the rest of the film fell flat. Although it brings awareness to the problems of beauty standards, the convoluted plot line tends to overshadow the message of I Feel Pretty.
I struggled for the longest time writing this because Nathalie Sibal is a multitude of things: smart, creative, strong, honest, kind, hilarious – but above all, she’s unique, and not many people can claim to be.
Nathalie’s creativity and passion knows no bounds. She has an innate ability to create complex characters and capture them in diverse moments, whether they inhabit the luxurious lifestyle of the Victorian era or the simple, naturalistic setting of Greece. No matter what story she drafts, they all possess a deep love and understanding of the human experience. Her immense talent, coupled with her confidence, is unmatched by no other and I can’t wait to see her break barriers in Hollywood.
More than a screenwriter, Nathalie is the greatest friend anyone can ask for. She came at a transitional point in my life where I was unsure of the future, but with her by my side, change didn’t seem as petrifying. Her wit and resilience inspire me, her kind and carefree nature lift me up. She is the Louise to my Thelma, the Venom to my Eddie Brock. There are not enough words in the English language I can use to express how lucky and grateful I am to have her as my best friend.
-Oscar Flores
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